NORTHERN IRELAND

RUC

Mr. Maginnis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has to establish a commission to examine the future structure of and operational matters pertaining to the RUC; and if she will make a statement. [37381]

Marjorie Mowlam:
The Government have appointed a Chairman and seven Members to the independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland, which is one of the elements in the Belfast Agreement (Command 3883).

School Transport

Mr. Wallace:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list (a) the average number of school children in Northern Ireland travelling by school transport each day and (b) the number of (i) fatalities and

Mr. Worthington [holding answer 21 May 1998]: The average number of children in schools in Northern Ireland in receipt of assistance with home to school transport over the period 1992-93 to 1996-97 was 103,414.

School child casualties (aged 4-16) travelling to or from school by bus or coach in Northern Ireland

School year (September--June)

Fatalities

Injured

1992-93

1

32

1993-94

0

10

1994-95

0

62

1995-96

0

67

1996-97

0

158

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Sportsmatch

Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funding his Department has provided to Sportsmatch in each year of its operation. [43575]

Mr. Banks [holding answer 1 June 1998]: The Sportsmatch scheme in England, which has been successful in attracting over £16.6 million in commercial sponsorship to grass roots sport since its inception, has received the following funding from my Department:

£ million(1)

1992-93

0.9

1993-94

3.0

1994-95

3.3

1995-96

3.7

1996-97

3.2

1997-98

3.2

1998-99

3.2

(1) Sportsmatch was launched in November 1992

Millennium Bank Holiday

Judy Mallaber:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans there are for an additional bank holiday to mark the Millennium. [44557]

Mr. Chris Smith:
I am pleased to announce that the year 2000 will be heralded by a one-off additional Bank Holiday throughout the United Kingdom on Friday, 31 December 1999. A recent consultation exercise conducted by the Government has confirmed that this decision commands overwhelming support among the many organisations which responded, and I know that large numbers of people will welcome this opportunity to prepare for the festivities on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day 2000.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Youth Justice

Mr. Rapson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Government have identified areas to pilot the new youth justice measures and the procedural changes to reduce delays in youth and adult cases contained in the Crime and Disorder Bill [Lords]. [44417]

Mr. Michael:
We have identified nine areas in which, in principle, we would like to pilot the new youth justice measures contained in the Crime and Disorder Bill. These measures are the final warning scheme; the reparation order; action plan order; child safety order and parenting order; and youth offending teams.

Firearms

Mr. William Ross:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date his Department held consultative meetings on the Review of the Firearms Forms and Rules with (i) the British Medical Association and other professional medical representative bodies, (ii) the National Farmers Union (England and Wales), (iii) the National Farmers Union (Scotland), (iv) the Country Landowners Association (England and Wales), (v) the Country Landowners Association (Scotland), (vi) firearms clubs and associations, (vii) the British Deer Society, and the Deer Commission for Scotland, and (viii) the British Sports Association for the Disabled; when he plans to conclude the review of Firearms Forms and Rules; when he plans to implement the proposed new Forms and Rules; for what reasons the Home Office Note of the main issues raised at the meeting on 19 February to discuss the forms, was not sent to all consultees when requesting further written submissions; and when he intends to meet consultees to discuss these matters. [44101]

Mr. Michael:
The arrangements made for meeting representatives of shooting organisations to discuss the proposed new Firearms Rules and forms are as set out in my answer to the hon. Member of 18 May 1998, Official Report, column 241. The new Rules and forms are planned to come into effect on 1 September 1998. The minutes of the working group meeting held on 19 February 1998 were intended solely as a record for those attending but were reflected in the draft forms subsequently sent out for comment. No further meetings are planned.